Queenstown – ANGIE & JAMES DO STUFF

Snow & A Sad Story – White Winter in Central Otago, New Zealand (June 2015)

December 3, 2015

Central Otago, New Zealand

Here’s a silly, tragic story for you. In June, I returned from our Queenstown trip with over 3000 photographs, which I transferred into a folder on my laptop. I accidentally deleted the entire folder without realising it and emptied the bin almost immediately (this is a very terrible habit of mine, I just don’t like seeing things sitting in the trash bin on my computer) and even after trying various recovery methods, I believe they’re lost for good. Thankfully, I’d already blogged about Arrowtown, Glenorchy, Coronet Peak and Amisfield by then, but all the pictures taken in the actual location of Queenstown (the pretty wildlife, the amazing food, the stunning view from the gondola, the surrounding snow-covered mountains, everything) were all gone before I’d even gotten around to sorting through them. Continue reading “Snow & A Sad Story – White Winter in Central Otago, New Zealand (June 2015)”

Amisfield Winery & Bistro, Queenstown NZ

July 9, 2015

Amisfield Bistro

Growing up, I visited Queenstown with family quite often – sometimes multiple times a year. Despite all Queenstown has to offer, from extreme sports to beautiful scenery, I was always most excited about visiting Amisfield’s Winery & Bistro for a long lunch. I have very fond memories of sitting outside under the warm spring sun, playing pétanque with family between courses of incredible food. Of course, the surroundings look fantastic in winter too and I was glad to have Angie with me this time around to savour the “Amisfield experience”. Continue reading “Amisfield Winery & Bistro, Queenstown NZ”

Hitting the Snow at Coronet Peak

July 1, 2015

Coronet Peak

To James, I asked: “What is Coronet Peak to you?” To which he replied: “It’s the closest ski resort to Queenstown. Pretty easy to get to – the drive up is much easier compared to other snowfields. But the snow itself is generally not that great. It’s an acceptable place to ski if you are lazy and don’t want to go further.”

I can agree with half his assessment, but I am no snow sport expert, so I cannot give my honest opinion on the quality of Coronet’s powder or user-friendliness. I can, however, tell you with absolute certainty that the views of the surroundings from up there are quite spectacular on a clear day. Continue reading “Hitting the Snow at Coronet Peak”

Arrowtown – A Former Gold Mining Town with a Rich History

June 21, 2015

Arrowtown, New Zealand

Situated at the foot of the mountains of Western Otago, on the banks of the sparkling Arrow River, Arrowtown is yet another iconic visitor destination on New Zealand’s South Island. Located only 20 minutes away by car from Queenstown, we ended up paying a quick visit on our second day. With a good smattering of boutique shops, galleries, bars and restaurants, Arrowtown is not quite as desolate as Glenorchy, but it is definitely no Queenstown. Continue reading “Arrowtown – A Former Gold Mining Town with a Rich History”

The Journey to Glenorchy (Or Middle-Earth, if you’ve watched Lord of the Rings)

June 20, 2015

Journey to Glenorchy, New Zealand

Our third day in Queenstown (yes, I’m starting with the third day) was my favourite. James took the car and we headed north towards Glenorchy, a frontier town with a reputation as ridiculously far-reaching as Hollywood. I could hardly believe the immense beauty that surrounded us all throughout our journey and we honestly could not have asked for better weather! Glenorchy itself was only about an hour’s drive away, but we stopped every few minutes to give our cameras a good run in the cold. Continue reading “The Journey to Glenorchy (Or Middle-Earth, if you’ve watched Lord of the Rings)”